College football fans couldn’t get enough of UNLV’s innovative fake punt

The UNLV Rebels had a special year: They reached the 10-win mark in the regular season and played for the Mountain West championship. They close out their season on Wednesday night at the LA Bowl against Cal and obviously have a few surprises in store for the matchup.

Early in the second quarter, UNLV was trailing 10-7 at its own 39-yard line and launched a very innovative fake punt, with punter Marshall Nichols throwing a two-handed chest pass that would earn him some tuition money. Pepper in an alternate timeline.

With the linemen already released downfield and Cal players rushing to block the punt, Nichols found Cameron Oliver running up the middle (but behind the original line of scrimmage, making it a legal play) with nothing as green in front of you. He managed 52 yards and set up a touchdown pass from Hajj-Malik Williams to Jacob De Jesus on the very next play.

False punts are almost always exciting, but there’s nothing quite like seeing such a novel twist on the play. The fans were thrilled.

However, those who have followed UNLV special teams coach James Shibest over the years may have recognized the play. Shibest, who previously coached special teams at Arkansas, Ole Miss, Memphis and Virginia Tech, has failed this game a few times.

UNLV leads Cal 14-13 late in the second quarter, leaving plenty of time for more trickery from the Rebels.